By Jason Cannon

jcannon@demopolistimes.com

Naheola Credit Union has been awarded the League of Southeastern Credit Union’s Credit Union of the Year award for credit unions under $100 Million in assets for 2011.

“It’s very rewarding to be placed so highly among our peers,” said Mark Johnson, Chief Executive Officer.

Johnson said the award was based on the institution’s operating performance over 2010 and was a sign that the practices and problems plaguing some of the financial institutional giants are not universal.

“I think it’s a sign that we’re doing things right,” he said. “That we’re doing things the right way.”

Community minded, Naheola Credit Union provides financial training to the local middle schools, high schools, and colleges and participates in a “job shadow” program for local college accounting students.

Naheola Credit Union has been in business since 1959 and has assets of over $70 million.

Branches are located in Pennington, Creola, and Demopolis and serve residents of Mobile, Baldwin, Washington, Clarke, Escambia, Choctaw, Wilcox, Marengo, Sumter, Greene and Hale counties in Alabama.

Johnson will formally receive the award in June at the League of Southeastern Credit Union’s Annual Conference in Orlando.

“It’s a team effort,” Johnson said of those with whom Naheola shares its award with.